Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
ヴィーノ・ノービレ・ディ・モンテプルチャーノ
Italy's first DOCG: elegant Tuscan nobility at a kinder price than Brunello.
About Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
- Producers listed
- 24
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of Italy's most historic DOCG wines, produced in the vineyards surrounding the hilltop town of Montepulciano in southeastern Tuscany. Granted DOCG status in 1980—among the first Italian wines to receive this honor—it is crafted primarily from Prugnolo Gentile, a local Sangiovese clone, comprising at least 70% of the blend. The vineyards sit at altitudes of 250–600 meters between the Val di Chiana and Val d'Orcia on sandy clay and calcareous soils, yielding wines of remarkable elegance. Known as the 'Wine of the Nobility,' it balances rich dark cherry and plum fruit with silky tannins, violet florals, and earthy spice. Aged at least two years (one in oak), the Riserva requires three years, developing into a wine of considerable complexity and grace.
Best for
Best for lovers of structured Italian reds who want Brunello-level elegance without the Brunello price tag, and for formal dinners or special occasions where a wine with centuries of noble history makes the moment unforgettable.
Food Pairings
Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine T-bone steak), roasted game meats and wild boar ragù, porcini mushroom risotto, aged Pecorino di Pienza and Tuscan cured meats (finocchiona, salumi), hearty bean stews (ribollita), and soy-glazed Japanese wagyu steak.
Producers
アヴィニョネージ
Avignonesi
A historic Montepulciano estate producing Vino Nobile alongside the legendary Occhio di Pernice (Vin Santo), famous for its rare, unctuous dessert wine.
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www.avignonesi.it/アジエンダ・ヴィニコラ・ラスパンティ
Azienda Vinicola Raspanti
Founded in 1960 by Cavalier Giuseppe Raspanti in Gracciano, a hamlet of Montepulciano in southern Tuscany, this family-run estate has grown from an initial 5 hectares to 65 hectares today, with 12 hectares dedicated to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG production. The winery, built in 1964 and expanded over the decades to a capacity of nearly 9,000 quintals, ferments in concrete and stainless steel and ages its Vino Nobile for three years in Slavonian oak barrels made from 100% Prugnolo Gentile. The estate is now led by Giuseppe's sons Antonino, Francesco, Salvatore, and Alberto, with cellar master Antonio Troisi—who joined the family business in 2003—named Cantiniere dell'Anno (Cellar Master of the Year) by the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in 2026, recognizing his work alongside Antonino Raspanti in the cellar. Raspanti is an active member of the Consorzio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
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www.cantinaraspanti.it/ビンデッラ
Bindella
Bindella (also known as Bindella - Tenuta Vallocaia) is a Montepulciano estate owned by the Swiss Bindella family. The family's ties to Tuscan wine date back to the early 1900s, when Jean Bindella began transporting Tuscan wine flasks to Switzerland; his grandson Rudi Bindella purchased the historic Vallocaia farm in 1983, starting with just 2 hectares. The estate has since grown to over 127 hectares, with 38 hectares under vine and 12 planted to olive trees. Bindella follows a low-intervention philosophy: no synthetic fertilizers, chemicals, or pesticides are used, and wines are fermented with native yeasts after long macerations. The estate cultivates more than 30 clones of Sangiovese (locally called Prugnolo Gentile), the backbone grape of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Flagship labels such as 'I Quadri' (a single-vineyard Vino Nobile) and 'Vallocaia Riserva' have earned high scores from Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Falstaff, and Gambero Rosso, cementing Bindella's reputation as one of the region's most refined producers.
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bindella.it/en/カンティーナ・バルバネーラ
Cantina Barbanera
Founded in 1938 in Cetona, at the foot of Monte Cetona in Tuscany's Valdichiana area, Cantina Barbanera (Barbanera Vini) is a four-generation family winery. Brothers Marco and Paolo Barbanera took over the estate from their grandparents in the late 1970s and built it into an internationally recognized Tuscan brand, producing Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino alongside wines from Puglia and Sicily. The winery pairs sustainable, low-impact viticulture with modern winemaking to craft accessible yet authentic expressions of Sangiovese and other native Italian varieties. In 2022 Italian Wine Brands acquired full ownership of the Barbanera group, with the founding family retaining a minority stake and remaining involved in the business.
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www.barbaneravini.itデ・リッチ
De' Ricci
De' Ricci is a historic winery in the heart of Montepulciano's old town, Tuscany, whose name has been tied to the town for more than eight centuries. Its most celebrated feature is a monumental cellar carved into the volcanic tufa rock beneath Palazzo Ricci, a Renaissance palace commissioned by Cardinal Giovanni Ricci and built by architect Baldassarre Peruzzi between 1534 and 1562. Documents attest that the Ricci family made wine here as early as 1337, and the vaulted, three-aisled cellar — often called the 'Wine Cathedral' or 'Cattedrale del Vino' — is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful wine cellars in the world. Since 2012 the estate has been run by the Trabalzini family (Enrico Trabalzini, with his son Nicolò as winemaker), who farm roughly 30 hectares and produce Sangiovese-based wines centered on Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, including the flagship cru Soraldo, alongside Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and several Tuscan IGT wines. The estate was welcomed into Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri circle in the 2024 guide.
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www.cantinadericci.it/en/エルコラーニ
Ercolani
Ercolani is a family-run winery in the historic center of Montepulciano, Tuscany, with winemaking roots tracing back to the 1940s and formally established as a company in 1988 by brothers Carlo and Marco Ercolani. The estate manages roughly 150 hectares of land encompassing 14 hectares of vineyards, olive groves, truffle grounds, and sheep pasture across the Poliziano territory, farming native varieties including Prugnolo Gentile (the local Sangiovese clone), Canaiolo Nero, Mammolo, Colorino, and Ciliegiolo. The winery's signature feature is the Città Sotterranea (Underground City), a 15th-century Gothic-Renaissance cellar complex tunneling beneath the noble palaces of Montepulciano's old town, complete with an Etruscan tomb, where Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and Vin Santo DOC age in oak barrels alongside a small museum of viticultural artifacts. Vinification follows traditional methods, using wooden vats and small-to-medium oak barrels, and the estate also produces grappa, extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheese, cured meats, and fresh truffles reflecting the broader Tuscan agricultural heritage of the property.
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www.ercolanimontepulciano.it/
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano the same as Montepulciano d'Abruzzo?
- No—they are completely different wines. Vino Nobile is a Sangiovese-based DOCG from the hilltop town of Montepulciano in Tuscany, while Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is made from the Montepulciano grape variety grown in the Abruzzo region on Italy's Adriatic coast. The shared word 'Montepulciano' in the name causes frequent confusion, but the grape, the region, and the style are entirely distinct.
- How does Vino Nobile di Montepulciano differ from Brunello di Montalcino?
- Both are prestigious Tuscan Sangiovese-based DOCGs, but Brunello is 100% Sangiovese Grosso and requires longer aging (5 years minimum), resulting in a more powerful, age-worthy, and expensive wine. Vino Nobile uses at least 70% Prugnolo Gentile (a Sangiovese clone) blended with other local varieties, aged a minimum of 2 years. Vino Nobile is more approachable earlier, offers comparable elegance, and typically costs significantly less—making it the smart sommelier's choice for everyday occasions.
- What does 'Nobile' (Noble) mean in the wine's name?
- The name dates back to the 14th century when this wine was served exclusively at the tables of the Tuscan nobility. The 'nobility' refers both to the aristocratic consumers and to the wine's inherently refined character. The term was officially codified in 1931 and the wine became Italy's first DOCG appellation in 1980.
- How long should I age Vino Nobile di Montepulciano before drinking?
- Standard Vino Nobile is enjoyable 3–5 years after harvest, once its tannins soften. The Riserva, aged at least 3 years before release, can continue developing for 10–15 years in good vintages. Unlike Brunello, which often demands a decade of cellaring, Vino Nobile hits its stride much sooner—making it ideal for those who appreciate structured Tuscan reds but don't want to wait.
- What grape variety is used in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
- The wine is made from at least 70% Prugnolo Gentile, a local clone of Sangiovese unique to the Montepulciano area. The name 'Prugnolo' (meaning 'little plum') reflects the variety's characteristic plum-like aromas. Up to 30% can be other indigenous Tuscan varieties such as Canaiolo Nero or Mammolo, and French varieties like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon are also permitted in small quantities.